Degreasing machine



1949 J. G. BAMBERGER DEGREASING MACHINE Filed 001:. 12, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

BY MM Patented Nov. 15, 1949 UNITED STAT DEGREASING o J ulien G. Bamberger, Milwaukee, Wis. Application October '12, 19i5, sriambl 'sz nszs"-' 8 claims. (01. 202 17 o) This invention relates to improvements in degreasing machines.

' Metal castings, stampings, and other parts which must be further processed are usually covered with oil or grease either as a result of lubricants used in machining or forming opera-: tions, or because a special coating has been applied to prevent rust. Before further work can be done on these parts, this coating must be removed. Degreasing machines which are now on the market usually employ moving parts, have complicated control systems, and are, therefore, expensive to build. One of the objectionable features of all degreasing machines is the rapid accumulation of sludge in the bottom of the boiling chamber. This must be frequently cleaned out with a resulting loss of time. In the average machine, if this sludge is not regularly removed it forms an insulating layer on the bottom which prevents the proper transfer of heat to the liquid degreasing solvent. This naturally affects the efilciency of operation. 7.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive degreasing machine having no moving parts, and which is so constructed as to prevent the accumulation of. sludge at the point of heat contact.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a degreasing machine wherein there is a relatively small sludge tank at one end of the bottom which projects below the rest of thebottom portion of the machine. This other portion of the bottom is inclined toward the sludge tank and a heating means is applied therebelow. There is also means for creating a constant movement of sludge down the inclined bottom portion into the sludge tank proper.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a degreasing machine as above described, wherein the inclined bottom portion which forms the boiling chamber is V-shaped or multiple V-shaped in cross section, as well as inclined toward the sludge tank, the heat being applied below the apex of the Vs, and there being means for creating a constant movement of sludge from the V5 into the sludge collecting tank. Thus, the accumulation of sludge at those locations where heat is concentrated is prevented, and it is possible to use the machine for.

set forth man "claims; a dali eq aiemg thereof." i In the accompanying drawing [illustrating one complete embodiment" of ith'e' preferred form of the "invention, in "which the same reference nu:

m'erals designate the same-"parts injalli'of the iew 'i;' i 1 1 i: Fig. '1 is a vertical longitudin'al sectional view through the improved-machine;

'. 'Fig. 2 is a sectionallvi'ew" taken on line" Fig-'3 is a sectional View} taken' 'o'n' line 3 3- Fjg; hand: ."15. s i J J. Fig. 4' is a fragmentary-sectional view taken on line4'4 of Fig.1..-

Referring more particularly to' the'drawing;

the device includes an-open "topped receptacle havin'g side Wal1s"8 arid- 9, end walls 10 and ll and a bottom wall designated g'enerallyby' the numeral-l2. V At-one end of the bottom, preferably extend ing transversely 'of the machine, is aportion which is ofiset downwardly below the're'stof the bo'ttom-to form a sludge tank- 13. ane wall ofthe sludge tank is preferably formed by the' lowr portion'of the endwalllOHThe upper edge of theopposite wall-T4 of theisludge tank joins the bottom portion I 5 which finnnesi' upwardly to meet the lower'edge of the end wall "I I of the machine; Below the bottom semen-151s a bot tom space "I 6 within which 011665 more as burners ll or otherhe'ating means-"mag be pos'itioned -In the preferred form-i of the invention th'r'e are two '-longitudin'ally' extending-gas burners n. The right hand n'd of thefdegreasing" machine may" be supported by the-pilin tank and theopposit rid by suitable-legs lag #Thainclined bottom-portion l5 is soformed as to present at least onev in cross section: -In the preferred embodiment of the invention there are. multiples of the fV-sha'ped portion 19 on2!) (-see Fig.-3 and th-Q bllll'le l's l 'l XtEIId IO Il' gitudinally 'dire'ctly below the apex'esof the V's.

The git-shaped portion I9 joins the :V-shaped per-- tion 20 'by a line offlbendf2Lwhich is preferably below the. normal liquid level in the. tank and -be-' low the linesof bend..'22 and 23 :whereth'eiouter sides of the Vs join; the lower edges oftheside walls 8 and 9.

tank as at 24.

Positioned about one-quarter tooner-third of: the way down from the top of the machine .isa,

cooling coil 25 having an inlet for cold water 26 and a water outlet 21. Below the cooling coil is a condensation trough 28. The high point of the condensation trough i preferably located on the end wall Ill, as at 29 (Fig. 4), and the trough preferably inclines downwardly slightly from the point 29. The portions of the trough which extend along the side walls 8 and 9 incline downwardly slightly toward the end wall II and the portion of the trough extending along the end wall I l inclines at its ends, as at 30, to direct condensate into the open ends 3! of collecting pipes 32. The collecting pipes 32 extend vertically downwardly on the exterior of the wall II and have lower end bends 33 which project into the receptacle. The open discharge ends 34 of the pipes are positioned directly over the apexes of the V-shaped portions 19 and 20.

The sludge tank may be formed with a sludge cleanout opening near the bottom of the sludge tank I3 which is controlled by a door or plug 31. The bottom of the tank preferably slopes toward said cleanout opening.

In use of the device, the sludge tank I3 is filled with a suitable degreasing solvent in liquid form. This liquid will, of course, flow into the V-shaped trough portions [9 and 20 of the bottom until the entire bottom of the machine is filled to approximately the level 36. The chemical employed is preferably trichlorethylene. When the gas burners I! are turned on and ignited, the heat will cause vaporization of the chemical in the trough portions l9 and 20. The articles to be degreased are usually placed in a suitable mesh basket and lowered by a hoist into the top of the machine. The castings or other metal parts to be degreased are at a temperature much lower than the vaporizing temperature of the chemical. For this reason when the rising vapors contact the metal parts, the vapors will be condensed back into the liquid form. The action of the vapors and the condensed liquid on the castings removes the grease and the latter drips back into the bottom of the degreasing machine, together with the condensate.

Those vapors which rise along the side and end walls of the machine contact the cold water coil 25 and are condensed into liquid form on the coil. This condensed material drips into the collecting trough 28, and due to the inclined arrangement of the trough is directed into the Vertical pipes 32. This collected liquid is then discharged continuously from the lower openings 34 of the pipes 32 directly into the ends of the troughs I9 and 20 formed by the double V-shaped bottom. It is to be noted that the discharge ends 34 of the pipes are positioned at the ends of the apexes of the V-shaped bottom portions so that the condensate which continuously flows into the troughs keeps the sludge moving down the incline in the troughs with the sludge being continually discharged into the sludge tank l3 where it settles to the bottom. With this arrangement the troughs I9 and 20 are kept clean indefinitely so that the maximum efficiency is obtained from the heat applied to the bottom thereof by the burners I]. It is apparent, therefore, that the degreasing machine may be continually used until the sludge in the sludge tank l3 reaches too high a level. It is then a fairly simple matter to remove the door 31 and clean out the sludge from the relatively small tank l3.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contem- 4 plated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A degreasing machine comprising a receptacle having a bottom, said bottom being shaped to provide an inclined trough which is substantially V-shaped in cross section, a sludge tank communicating with the lower end of said trough, said trough and sludge tank being adapted to receive a degreasing solvent, means for applying heat to said inclined trough to vaporize a degreasing solvent therein, and means including a gravity feed pipe for delivering condensate from the upper portion of the receptacle, the discharge end of said pipe being located at the upper end of said trough near the bottom surface thereof.

2. A degreasing machine comprising a receptacle having a bottom, said bottom being shaped to provide an inclined trough which is substantially double V-shaped in cross section, a sludge tank communicating with the lower end of said trough, said trough and sludge tank being adapted to receive a degreasing solvent, means for applying heat to said inclined trough to vaporize a degreasing solvent therein, and means includin two gravity feed pipes for delivering condensate from the upper portion of the receptacle, the discharge end of said pipes being located at the upper end of said trough near the bottom surface thereof and in line with the apexes thereof.

3. A degreasing machine comprising a receptacle having a bottom, said bottom being shaped to provide an inclined trough which is substantially V-shaped in cross section, a sludge tank communicatin with the lower end of said trough, said trough being of progressively decreasing cross sectional area away from the sludge tank and said trough and sludge tank being adapted to receive a degreasing solvent, means for applying heat to said inclined trough to vaporize the degreasing solvent therein, and means including a gravity feed pipe for delivering condensate from the upper portion of the receptacle, the discharge end of said pipe being located at the upper end of said trough near its bottom surface and in line with its apex.

4. A degreasing machine comprising a receptacle having a bottom, said bottom being shaped to provide an inclined trough which is substantially V-shaped in cross section, a sludge tank communicating with the lower end of said trough, said trough and sludge tank being adapted to receive a degreasing solvent, means for applying heat locally below the apex of the V-shaped trough to vaporize a degreasing solvent therein, and means including a gravity feed pipe for delivering condensate from the upper portion of the receptacle to the upper end of said trough near the bottom surface thereof and in line with the apex.

5. A degreasing machine comprising a receptacle having a bottom, said bottom being shaped to provide an inclined trough which is substantially V-shaped in cross section, a sludge tank communicating with the lower end of said trough, said trough and sludge tank bein adapted to receive a degreasing solvent, an elongated heating member extending longitudinally below the apex of the V-shaped trough to vaporize a degreasing solvent therein, and means for delivering condensate from the upper portion of the receptacle to the upper end of said trough in line with the apex thereof.

6. A degreasing machine comprising a receptacle having a bottom shaped to provide an inclined trough which is substantially V-shaped in cross section, a sludge tank communicating with the lower end of said trough, said trough and sludge tank being adapted to receive a degreasing solvent, means for applying heat below the apex of the v-shaped trough to vaporize a degreasing solvent therein, and means including a gravity feed pipe delivering condensate from the upper portion of the receptacle to the upper end of said trough near the bottom surface thereof in line with the apex, said means providing a constant flow of liquid down the trough thereby preventing the collection of sludge therein at the points of heat contact.

7. A degreasing machine comprising a receptacle havin a bottom, said bottom being shaped to provide an inclined trough which is substantially V-shaped in cross section, a sludge tank communicating with the lower end of said trough, said trough and sludge tank being adapted to receive a degreasing solvent, means for applying heat to said inclined trough to vaporize a degreasing solvent therein, means in an upper portion of the receptacle for condensing vapors, means for collecting the condensate, and a gravity feed pipe for delivering said condensate into the upper end of said trough near the bottom surface thereof in line with the apex.

8. A degreasing machine comprising a receptacle having a bottom, said bottom being shaped to provide an inclined trough which is substan- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 93,066 Davis July 27, 1869 284,123 Ewins Aug; 28, 1883 1,907,875 Robertson May 9, 1933 1,973,426 Booth Sept, 11, 1934 2,091,187 Savage Aug. 24, 1937 2,366,949 Woppman et a1 Jan. 9, 1945 2,369,050 Helfenstein Feb. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 779,667 France Jan. 19, 1935 

